Yes, you can use Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles to book rental cars, but it's generally considered a poor value compared to redeeming miles for flights. The primary partners for this redemption are Avis and Budget. The redemption rate is typically steep, often around 1,000 miles for a $25 credit, which values each mile at only about 2.5 cents. For most travelers, saving miles for award flights, especially on Alaska's esteemed airline partners, will yield significantly better value.
The process is straightforward. You book your rental car directly through the Alaska Airlines portal linked from the "Cars & Hotels" section of their website. You'll need to pay for the base rental cost with a credit card, and then you can apply your miles as a credit against that total. It's not a direct "free rental" but rather a way to offset the cash price.
When might it make sense? This option could be worthwhile if you have a small balance of expiring miles that isn't enough for a flight, or if you find a promotional offer that temporarily improves the redemption rate. However, for the vast majority of situations, your miles are better spent elsewhere. The table below illustrates the standard redemption value, which pales in comparison to the potential value from flight redemptions.
| Rental Car Partner | Typical Redemption Rate | Approximate Cash Value per Mile |
|---|
| Avis | 1,000 miles = $25 credit | 2.5 cents |
| Budget | 1,000 miles = $25 credit | 2.5 cents |
| Potential Flight Redemption | Varies by route & date | Often 5-15+ cents per mile |
Before you use your miles, always compare the cost of paying cash versus the value of the miles you'd be burning. For a frequent flyer, those same miles could be the key to a discounted international ticket.
